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- Class of 2021 -
Congratulations Class of 2021!
May 27, 2021
Proud Sponsor of the Annual Graduation Section
May 27, 2021
- Class of 2021 -
GRADUATION
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Ottawa gave him a passion for learning BY SCOTT ALBRIGHT Ottawa University
Floyd Daniels lost his job unexpectedly in 2013, when his employer closed its Phoenix office. He was 39, had worked his way up to management level with only a high school education, and was now at a crossroads. He realized education needed to be his priority, so he decided to pursue an associate’s degree in business administration and enrolled in Everest College. Nearly two years later, with only two courses left to complete his degree, Everest filed for bankruptcy in 2015 and closed all its campuses nationwide. “Needless to say, I was devastated and discouraged. I just felt hopeless,” Daniels said. “This is when I was introduced to Ottawa University’s Arizona campuses. I remember meeting with an Ottawa admissions representative, who encouraged me by saying, ‘It’s not over. Let me help you complete your degree.’
Floyd Daniels lost his job unexpectedly in 2013, when his employer closed its Phoenix office. (Photo courtesy of Ottawa University)
“I was defeated at the time, thinking maybe I wasn’t meant for school, so that’s exactly what I needed to hear.” Daniels took the information shared with him about Ottawa’s flexible, online adult education offerings, which included an opportunity to finish his two outstanding associate’s degree courses and a transfer opportunity to get his bachelor’s degree from Ottawa. Though he thought of taking a break, he received a call from the admissions department at Ottawa University-Arizona asking if he was ready to finish his education. “Even though I wasn’t yet convinced about my plan of action, something made me say, ‘Yes, let’s do it.’ By the summer of 2015, I was enrolled and taking my first class at OUAZ’s Phoenix campus.” Now 41, Daniels was on his way to earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He was also working again, full time, putting in a minimum 55 hours per week. “There were many times I wanted to quit,” Daniels said. “I figured I made good money, so why did I need to continue? I came to the realization that this was not about the money. It was something I needed to do for myself. Not having a degree and working around many that did made me feel inadequate. This frame of mind really motivated me to push forward.” In 2017, Daniels experienced what he says was “one of the proudest moments of my life”: He walked the commencement stage after completing his bachelor’s degree. “I can remember saying, ‘God, please let me get through this,’ and with his grace I did,” Daniels said. There was something inspiring about
Ottawa University in Arizona has campuses in Surprise and Phoenix. (Photo courtesy of Ottawa University)
the accomplishment and his experience at Ottawa: He wanted more. “I never would have thought I’d consider pursuing another degree after what it took to get my bachelor’s,” Daniels said. “But that’s exactly what I did. In 2018, at the age of 44, I decided to take the leap once more and get my master’s in leadership from Ottawa.” Daniels completed his masters in 2019. He could have just move on to the next chapter in his life. But he wasn’t quite finished yet. “The strangest thing happened: I enrolled yet again!” Daniels said. “This time, I am pursuing a second master’s in human resources. I’m currently in my last two classes, which I will complete at the end of April 2021 at the age of 46. “I won’t say this time that I’m done, because obviously I have developed a passion for continuing my education. Ottawa instilled that passion in me and really changed my life.” Daniels is the first and only member of his immediate family of eight to have completed any type of degree. He said he will be forever grateful that “Ottawa
took a chance on me and allowed me to live up to my potential.” “It has truly been an honor, and I sing Ottawa’s praises every opportunity I get,” Daniels said. To learn more about Ottawa University’s Arizona campuses in Phoenix and Surprise, visit ottawa.edu/ouaz or contact an enrollment adviser at 1-855-5461342 or ouazadmiss@ottawa.edu to set up an advisory session. Founded in 1865, Ottawa University has grown from a single building in Ottawa, Kansas, into a comprehensive educational institution serving more than 5,000 students online, as well as through its residential campuses in Ottawa, Kansas and Surprise and adult campuses in Overland Park, Kansas; Phoenix; and Milwaukee . OUAZ in Surprise opened in August 2017 and since then has grown to more than 800 students. With its adult campus in Phoenix, Ottawa University has had a footprint in metro Phoenix since 1977, with more than 8,000 alumni. Nationwide, the university has more than 22,000 graduates. Information: ottawa.edu
- Class of 2021 -
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Isaac Earl Imes
1942
Isaac E. Imes School Built
May 27, 2021
- Class of 2021 -
May 27, 2021
j o c i u r r o n t e s y i h
1957
Melvin E. Sine School Built
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Melvin Eugene Sine
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GRADUATION
- Class of 2021 -
May 27, 2021
e l a d n e l G Unified
HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
TOP 1% STUDENTS The Glendale Unified High School District had a successful year, with more than $27.8 million in scholarships: $10,363,525 for Apollo High School students, $9,250,000 for Glendale High School students and $8,373,949 for Independent High School students. While the district’s schools do not recognize valedictorians and salutatorians, they do honor the top 1%.
APOLLO HIGH SCHOOL
INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL
• Kale Amparan. • Hy Truong. • Noel Hernandez. • Aubrey Wells.
• Elysia Jane Carreon. • Soraya A. Cortes Coria. • Angelica Diaz-Barriga. • Alicia Fraire. • Lauren Garcia. • Xitlaly Valdez Lara. • VyVy Vo.
GLENDALE HIGH SCHOOL • Johanely Moran. • Marisol Mata. • Victoria Favela.
Choose to make your future happen at Glendale Congratulations Seniors. Your future awaits and Glendale Community College is a great place to get started on your next journey. At GCC you get the following, and more. • Choose from hundreds of course offerings • Small class sizes taught by world class faculty • Numerous class offerings; in-person, hybrid, and online, including live-online • Affordable tuition that is thousands of dollars less than colleges and universities Register Now at enroll-gcc.com Get more info here www.gccaz.edu/fall2021
The Maricopa Community College District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information, as well as a listing of all coordinators within the Maricopa College system, visit: www.maricopa.edu/non-discrimination
- Class of 2021 -
May 27, 2021
GRADUATION
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Cori Vaquera tells her class to ‘Discipline’ helped make the little things count James Wright find success
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
Glendale Star Executive Editor
Cori Vaquera is relieved that the Peoria Unified School District returned to some sort of normalcy. She enjoyed the homecoming assembly and Spring Spirit Week. Most of all, there was her Ironwood High School graduation, where she was chosen by her peers to speak. “Seniors have a form to fill out, and we get to vote for a senior speaker,” she said. “I was chosen for that.” In her speech, Cori asked her peers to not take anything for granted and to make even the small moments count. “This past year was hard on me, personally,” Cori said. “At the beginning of the pandemic, I felt upset because I was losing so much.” She took that anxiety and used it to improve the well-being of her class-
mates. Cori helped plan student-related, uplifting activities. “A lot of what I do is to make other people happy,” she said. “I wanted to try to keep everybody out of a negative mindset. I tend to pile a lot on my plate. I find peace in doing things for other people.” Cori plans to attend Paradise Valley Community College, while she decides her major. Her options are film, TV sports broadcasting or graphic design. “I am a really big sports fan,” Cori said. “I love pro sports. I’m a big Cardinals, Sun and Chiefs fan. I loved being a part of sports at school.” Cori played volleyball for about 10 years and served as captain for the varsity volleyball team. “I am a big fan of Patrick Mahomes because of his personality and talent,” she said. “I want to find success like that.”
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
a lot of opportunities to make money.” James credited his teachers for showJames Wright, who graduated in the ing him how to be a critical thinker top 1% of his class at Ironwood High through classes like International BacSchool, has a theory about calaureate physics, math, his success. English, history, psy“It took discipline,” James chology and Spanish. said. “I find that a lot of peoA Sun City West resiple can be successful. You dent, James balanced his just have to discipline yourschoolwork with sports self and work on a schedule and extracurricular acto be productive.” tivities. He pitched for He said he’s been discithe baseball team. He plined from a young age. served as treasurer of the James wanted to — and was National Honor Society required to — get his work and vice president of the done. He’ll carry that over Future Business Leaders to ASU, where he will study James Wright graduated in of America. the top 1% of his class at finance. “I find that people High School. “I really like numbers,” Ironwood waste a lot of time — (Photo by Pablo Robles) he said. “I’m good in math. even myself,” he said. I really want to go into a super math- “However, I don’t have a ton of free heavy field, like a mathematician. time. I want to do something valuable “Plus, I figured with finance, there are with that time.”
Glendale Star Executive Editor
Open Enrollment 9-12 Charter High School
since 2001
SUMMER SESSION July 6-July 30,2021
FALL SESSION
starts August 16,2021
Deer Valley Academy 2710 W. Bell Rd. #1221 Phoenix, AZ 85053
Afternoon and evening high school classes are offered in a small and caring learning environment. A comprehensive selection of courses that meet College and Career Standards are provided.
• Year-Round Calendar • Six Entry Dates Per Year • Graduation Requirements: 22 Credits
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- Class of 2021 -
GRADUATION
May 27, 2021
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